Liquid-measuring apparatus.



A. B. WALLEM.

LIQUID MEASURING APPARATUS.

- APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1912. 1,062.937. Patented May 27,1913

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IN VE NTOR A TTOIVQNEY A. B. WALLEM.

LIQUID MEASURING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1912.

1,062,937. Patented May 27, 1913.

4 SHEETS-*SHEET 2 INVE N 7BR WITNESSES 4 4 w, z

A. B wALLEM. LIQUID MEASURING APPARA'I US,

APPLIOATIQN FILED MAY 29,1912.

Patented May 27, 1913.

4 SHEBTS-SHEET 3.

WI TNESSES IN VEN TOR ddr k A TTORNE' Y A. B. WALLEM. LIQUID MEASURING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1Ql2.

Patented May 27, 1913.

4 SHEETS SHEET 4 INVENTOR wag-w 4 M,

A TTORNE Y WITNESSES fifiwmw flamy UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AXEL WALLEM, OF CYNWYD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH S. LOVEBING' WHARTON, WILLIAM S. HALLOWELL, AND JOHN C. JONES, DOING'BUSINESS AS THE FIRM 0F HARRISON SAFETY BOILER WORKS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYL- VANIA.

LIQUID-MEASURING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed May 29, 1912. Serial No. 70Q, 859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, AXEL B. \VALLEM, a c tizen of the United States of America, residing in'Cynwyd, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have. invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Liquid-Measuring Apparatus, of which the fol-lowing is a true and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

My resent invention relates to liquid measuring apparatus of the kind in which the liquid to be measured is passed through .one or the other of two measuring chambers with particularity in the claims annexed to" and.forn1ing a part. of thisv specification. For a better understanding of theinvention, however, and the advantages possessed by it, reference should be? had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter. in which I have illustrated and described preferred forms of apparatus'embodying my invention.

()f the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved measuring apparatus, connected to an open feed water heater to measure the water discharged from the latter, Fig. Q'is a. front elevation of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a partial sectional plan on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, Fig. is a partly sectional side elevation of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a section of one of the controlling valves, Fig. 5 isa partial sectional plan taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2, Fig. (3 is a sectional eleation taken on the line t' (3 of Fig. 5, Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the portion of the apparatus shown in Figs. 5 and Fig. 8 is a View taken similarly to Fig. 2, illustrating a modified constructiorr'and, Fig. 9 is a somewhat diagrammatic representation of apparatus differing slightly from that shown in Fig. 8.

In the drawings, A and B represent the two measuring chambers, which-preferably as shown, though not necessarily, are in the form of the similar compartments into which a casing element C is divided by a central partition C. As shown, the two compartmentsA and B are formed-with inlet ports A and B at their upper ends, and outlet ports A and B respectively, at their lower ends. The inlet openings A. and B communicate with outlet passages (la and (171, respectively, formed in the easing of a valve D, secured to the casing element C. The casing of valve D is formed with a cylindrical partition (1, concave to the inlet chamber (1 of the valve casing, and formed with ports dc and db, connecting the chamber d with the outlet passages via and (17), respectively. The flow through the ports da and M1 is controlled by a rotary valve member which comprises a valve seat engaging portion D and a body member I), secured to a shaftor spindle D journaled in and projecting through the valve casing. As shown, the valve members I), and D are connected by a pin and socket connection which permits radial movement of the valve member D, and a spring D, acting between the members I) and D forces the former against the seat formed by the oncave wall of the partition d with the desired pressure. In Fig. 1, the valve memher I), when in the dotted line position, closes the port. do, while leaving the port (17) open, and when in the full line position, closes the port db while leaving the port (Za open. The valve member D is formed with suliicient lap so that in moving from either position into the other position it closes the port previously open before opening the previously closed port. The inlet chamber at of the casing D is connected to the conduit or reservoir supplying the water to be measured.

As shown in the drawings, the measuring apparatus is employed to measure the wa ter" discharged t'rom an-open feed water heater Patented May 27, 1913.

of common type, comprising a tank or chamber F open at the bottom to the chamber d of the valve D. The water to be beated and the steam for heating it are sup- A and B from the chambers A and B, re-

spectively, communicate with inlet passages ca and 01), respectively, of the valve E, which may be identical in construction with the valve D, and comprises parts ea, 01), ea, 61), E, E", E and E, correspondin respectively to the parts (la, db, da, db, D, D D and D". The valve E is turned up side down with respect to the valve casing D, however, and the chambers ea and eb form the inlet passages of the valve, while the chamber 6 forms the outlet passage.

The spindles D and E of the valves D and E are provided externally of the corresponding valve casings with operatingarms D and E respectively. The arms D and E are connected by links 0 and 0 respectively, to an operating lever O, fulcrumed at O. The valves and operating connect-ions are so arranged that normally the inlet port. da or db, leading to one, and the outlet port eb or ea, leading from the other of the chambers A and B, are open, while the other two of the four ports da, db, eb, and ea, are closed, thus permitting the one chamber to fill and the other to empty. IVhen the lever O is oscillated to permit the chamber which has been filling to empty, and the chamber which has been emptying to fill, as hereinafter explained, the valve members D and E, on initial movements, close all four of the ports controlled by these members, and then on further movements, open the ports previously closed, while keeping closed the two ports previously open. The oscillating movements of lever O are brought about by a fluid pressure motor comprising a cylinder M, in which works a piston N, having its stem connected by a link N to the lever O. The cylinder M receives the motive fluid, which may be steam or other suitable and convenient fluid under pressure, through the main supply pipe L and its branches. The passage of the pres sure fluid through the supply pipe L is dircctly controlled by the primary cut ofi' valve K and the passage of the pressure fluid into one end or the other of the cylinder M, when the valve K is open, is governed in the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 by reversing valves. Q and It actuated by the piston N, and by cut off valves V and IV responsive to the relative volumes of liquid in the chambers A and B. The pri mary cut ofl valve -K is operated by a float I in response to variations in the height of water level in the chamber G into which the chambers A and B discharge. As shown, the chamber G is a closed ncce'ptacle, located beneath the valve E and open to the outlet chamber e of the latter. The measured water issues from the chamber G through the outlet G, and may pass. from the latter to a boiler feed pump or be otherwise disposed of. The float I, responsive to the rise and fall of the water level inthe chamber G, is arranged as shown in a float chamber H, attached'to the side of and forming an extension of the chamber G. 'As shown, the float I is carried by an arm secured to a. shaft I, which, externally'of the float chamber H, carries an arm'P, the free end of which bears against a cam lever J. The latter is constantly urged toward the shaft I by the spring J 2 and is formed with a cam enlargement J by means of which the latter portion of the oscillatory movement -of the shaft I in either direction is made quick and positive. The pin and slot connection shown between the arm' I and the link I connecting thearm to the operating lever K of the valve K, permits of a limited movement of the float without a corresponding movement of the valve. Advantageously, the valve K is formed as shown in Fig. 4, so that when closed, the piping L, at the outlet side of the valve casing, is connected to the exhaust pipe L. The cam lever J and cooperating parts cause the valve Kto be opened and closed quickly .and positively, and thereby prevent wire drawing.

As shown best in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the ipe L is connected by branch pipes L an L? to the reversing valves Q and R, respectively, which are located at opposite sides of the cylinder M. The distributing valve Q, as shown comprises a casing formed with four radial ports, Q, Q, Q and Q, The pipe 1/ is connected to the port Q; the port Q .is connected by, the pipe L to the lower end of the cylinder M; the port Q is connected to the exhaust piping L and the port Q is connected -by the pipe L 'to the upper end of the cylinder M. The rotary valve member 9 of the valve Q is formed with two passages g and q, which respectively connect the ports Q and Q,'and the. ports Q and Q, in one position of the valve member 9. In another position of the valve member however, communication between the ports Q, Q, Q and Q is cut oil". The reversing valve R is a counterpart of the valve Q, and has corresponding parts indicatedby symbols R and r with exponents similar to those employed in connection with the corresponding parts of the valve Q. In the valve R, however, the pressure supply pipe is connected to the port R the port It is connected to the exhaust piping L;

each fall movement of the piston N in either pressure are operated by floats and the ports R and R are connected to the corresponding ends of the cylinder M by pipes L and L. respectively. The valve members 11 and 1' have operating arms 1; and 7* connected by a link for a simultaneous movement, and the connection is such that in the one operative position of the parts shown in Fig. 6, the ports Q, Q are connected, as are the ports Q and Qflwhile communication between the ports R, R R and R is cut oil, and in the second operative position of the valve members, communication between the" various ports in the casing of valve Q is closed, while the ports R and R of the valve R are connected by the passage '1", and the ports R and R are connected by the passage 1. The, reversing valve Q thus serves to admit fluid supplied by the pipe L to the lower end of the cylinder M, and at the same time,*to connect the upper end of the cylinder to the exhaust, while the reversing valve R controls the supply of pressure fluid .from the pipe L to the upper end of the cyl inder M, and controls the exhaust from the lower end of the cylinder. The valve member g is provided with a second arm q connected by a link P to an arnrE", secured to the valve spindle E of the 'valve E. A

shown, the arni E and link P are connected by a pin a'nd slot connection so that while direction brings about a corresponding movement ofthe valves q and 1", each movement ofthe latter occurs during the final portion of the corresponding movement of the piston N.

The balanced cut ofl" valves V and \V are arranged in the pressure supply branch pipes L and L respectively. These valves S-and T, located within the chambers A and B and carried by shafts S and T, respectively. which are journaled in the wall of casing C, and are provided externally of the latter with arms S and T connected by a link U so that the two floats move together. The arm 6 is connected by a link S to the valve V, and the arm T. is connected by link T to the valve Vt. The arrangement is such that each valve opens and closes as the corresponding float rises and falls.

The oscillating movements of the lever O and therefore the numberot' times the two chambers A and B fill and empty are counted by means of a counting train X having its operating level-X conncctedasby the link 0 to the lever 0. To obtain a graphic record of the number of times the n'icasuringr chambers fill and empty, I have attached to the valve spindle E an arm E" adapted on each oscillatory movement of the valve spindle E to engage a cam projection Y formed on the spring needle Y to force the marking point of the latter into and,

contact with the clock driven record surface .Z, which may .also serve as the record surface of a marking device Z which may be employed to give a record of the temperature or pressure in the chamber G.

other branched vent pipe D similarly connects the chamber F to the measuring chamber B and the valve passage (lb. Advantageously also, the chamber (i or the float chamber extension H thereof may be connected to the chamber F above the water level line, as by the vent pipe H.

The apparatus, as shown, is intended to operate under such conditions that when either measuring chamber A orB, after being filled, is opened to the chamber G, the filled measuring chamber will empty, and the emptied chamber -will fill, in less time than is required for the water passing out of the emptying chamber, to flow through the chamber G. In other words, when the chamber G supplies a boiler feed pump, for instance, the apparatus should be so designed that either chamber A or B will fill or empty in less time than that required by the boiler feed pump, working at its maximum capacity, to pump out of the receptacle G a quantity of water equal to that which either chamber A or B Will hold. In consequence. as either measuring chamber begins to discharge, the water level in the receptacle G and float chamber H rises and the float 'I' then closes the valve K. \(Vhen thereafter the withdrawal of water from the receptacle Gsufliciently lowers the water level in the latter, the float 1 falls and opens the valve K. The condition of the appa rat-us is then that shown by the drawings. The opening of the valve K permits the pressure fluid to pass to the proper reversing valve Q or R, depending on whether chamber A or B is full, and thence to the bottom or top of the cylinder M, whereupon the piston N is moved up or down, as the case may be, to correspondingly shift the valvcs D and E. As the piston N reaches the end of its stroke, the reversing valves, Q and R are shifted into the position to bring about a return movement (it the piston N. This shifting of thereversing valves ordinarily occurs ahead of any appreciable change in water level in the re eptacle G, and -while the valve K is therefore still open. A premature return movement of the piston N at this time is prevented, however, by the (OlIQSl'NllltllIlg cut ottvalve V or W each of which is closed while the level of the water in the corresponding measuring chamber A or B is abovc the level of the water in the other measuring chamber.

Instead of employing float actuated cut formed with ofi valves V and W in conjunction with a reversing valve meehanism which is positively actuated by the fluid pressure motor as in the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 7, I may dispense with such cut off valves and operate the reversing valve mechanism by a float or floatsresponsive to the distribution of liquid in the measuring chambers A and B. Figs. 8 and 9 show arrangements for doing this which differ from one another only in one minor respect, as hereinafter explained. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the valves Q, R, V and \V of Fig. 2, are re placed by a single valve RA. The valve RA comprises a cylindrical casing element R" ports R and ports R adjacent its ends whichcommunicate with the opposite ends of the cylinder M. The pressure supply pipe Lis connected to the casing R between the ports R and R and the waste valve piping L is connected axially into one end of the casing R. The valve member R working in the easing is made hollow and formed with ports R at its stem end to thereby connect the opposite ends of the casing R and is formed with enlarged endsR? so spaced that when the valve member R is in an intermediate position, both ports R and R are closed, while when the valve is displaced in either direction from said intermediate position,

R is placed in communication with the v pipe L while-the other port is in communication wi h the exhaust piping L. The stem R of the valve member R is connected by a link T to the float actuated arm T in Fig.8, and to the float actuated arm T in Fig. 9. The floats S and T employtl in Fig. 8 are mounted and connected as in Fig. 2. The single float TA employed in Fig. 9 is secured to a rock shaft T which carries the arm T. Y p

It will be apparent Without explanation that in the arrangement shown in Fig. 9 as well as in that shown in Fig. 8, the reversing valve RA-willconnect the pipe L to the upper end of the cylinder M when the chamber B is filled, or the liquid level line therein is relativelyhigh, and will connect the lower end of the cylinder M to the pipe L when the chamber B is empty, or the liquid level line is relatively low. From a prac ti'cal standpoint, therefore, the float ar rangements of Figs. 8 and 9 are similarly responsive to the distribution of liquid in the measuring chambers. The arrangements shown in Figs. 8 and 9 possess the obvious advantage over the arrangements shown in Fig. 2 of greater simplicity. The arrangement of Fig. 2 possesses, the advantage, however, that the frictional load which the float or floats must overcome may be somewhat smaller than is the case in the arrangement shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and

one of the ports R andthe use of two floats instead of one obviously doubles the power available if the floats are all of the same size.

lVhilc in accordance with the rovisions ofthe statutes I have illustrate and described the best forms of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the form of the apparatus disclosed Without departing from the spirit of my invention and that under some conditions certain features of my invention may be used with advantage without a corresponding use of other features.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by ,Letters Patent is,

1. In a liquid measuring apparatus, the combination of two measuring chambers, valve mechanism controlling the admission to and discharge from said chambers of the liquid measured, said mechanism being shiftable back and forth from one position in which one chamber fills and the other empties to a second position in which theone chamber empties and the other; chamber fills, a receptacle into which both chambers empty, and means responsive to the height of water level in said receptacle for shifting said valve mechanism on a predetermined fall of said level. j

2. In a liquid measuring apparatus, the combination of two measuring chambers, valve mechanism controlling the admission to and discharge from said chambers of forth from one position in which one chamber fills and the other empties to a second position in which the one chamber empties and the other chamber fills, a receptacle into which both chambers empty, a motor for shifting said valve mechanism, and a controlling device for said motor responsive to the rise and fall of the liquid level in said receptacle.

3. In a liquid measuring apparatus, the combination of two measuring chambers, valve mechanism controlling the admission to and discharge from said chambers of the liquid measured, said valve mechanism being shiftable back and forth from one osition in which one chamber fills and the other empties to a second position in which the one chamber empties and the other chamber fills, a receptacle into which both chambers empty, and mechanism for shifting said valve mechanism including controlling means jointly responsive to the accumulation of liquid in said receptacle and to the distribution of liquid in said chambers.

4;. In a liquid measuring apparatus, the combination of two measuring chambers, valve mechanism controlling the admission to and discharge from said chambers of the liquid measured, and shiftable back and the liquid measured and shiftable back and v forth from one position in which one chamber fills and the other empties to a second position in which the one chamber empties and the other chamber fills, a receptacle into which both chambers empty, means for shifting said valve mechanism including a controlling device responsive to the rise and fall of the liquid level in said receptacle.

and means preventing a second shifting of i said valve mechanism until after a change in the distribution of liquid in said chaml hers following the preceding shift of said valve mechanism, said last mentioned means comprising a pair of floats arranged one in each of said measuring chambers and interconnected so thatfloat rises as the other descends.

AXEL B. WALLEM.

Witnesses:

ROBERT G. CLiF'roN, J. ViLLARD GAMBLE. 

